New to DubaiThings to know about Dubai before you move: laws, customs and holidays
Here are the main things to know about Dubai before you move. A few laws are much stricter than at home, especially on drugs, drinking in public, insults and what you post online. The weekend is Saturday and Sunday, and most public holidays move every year because they follow the moon. Get those right and most of the rest is paperwork and common sense.
This guide covers the rules that catch newcomers out, the manners people notice and how the year is laid out. It also covers the small practical things that save you a fine or an awkward moment.
One piece of advice before anything else: talk to people who have lived here and listen to what they say. Just don't treat one person's advice as the final word. Things here change quickly, so get a second opinion and check the official government sites before you rely on any detail.
The laws that catch newcomers out
Most people never come close to trouble. The ones who do usually didn't know a rule existed, so learn these before you land.
- Drugs: don't touch them, full stop. Something legal where you live now may not be legal here, and drug offences are treated very seriously.
- Medicines: some medicines that are normal at home may be controlled here. If you bring any, carry the prescription and check the UAE health authority rules before you fly.
- Alcohol: you can drink in licensed hotels, bars and restaurants. In Dubai you need an alcohol licence to buy from licensed shops, but not to drink in a bar or restaurant. Drinking in public places, or being drunk in public, is not allowed.
- Driving: if you're driving, don't drink anything at all.
- Tempers: swearing and rude gestures are taken far more seriously here than in many countries. That includes a WhatsApp message and a hand signal in traffic. Keep your cool.
- Social media: don't post photos of people without their permission, and don't insult people, companies or the government online.
- Affection in public: holding hands is fine for most couples. Kissing in public is not.
Some old rules have relaxed
Plenty of advice online is years out of date. For example, legal reforms in 2020 made it legal for unmarried couples to live together.
So if something you read sounds very strict, check when it was written. Then check it against an official source.
Customs people will notice
Dubai is relaxed by regional standards and very international. It is also a Muslim city, and small signs of respect go a long way.
- Dress: in malls, government offices and older parts of town, cover your shoulders and knees. Swimwear is for the beach and the pool, not the walk to the shops.
- Mosques: if you visit one that welcomes visitors, women will need to cover their hair, and everyone should cover their arms and legs.
- Greetings: let the other person lead. Some people prefer not to shake hands with the opposite sex, and a hand on your heart is a polite alternative.
- Your right hand: use it to pass things, eat and greet people.
- Photos: ask before you photograph anyone, especially women and families.
- Prayer times: you'll hear the call to prayer five times a day. You don't need to do anything, though turning the music down in a taxi is a kind touch.
Ramadan changes the rhythm of the city
Ramadan is the Islamic holy month, when Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. It follows the lunar calendar (based on the moon, not the sun), so it starts earlier each year and can fall in any season.
Working hours get shorter, and the evenings come alive with iftar, the meal that breaks the fast. During daylight hours most people avoid eating, drinking or smoking in public, out of respect.
Our guide to Ramadan in Dubai explains what changes and how to fit in without overthinking it.
The week and the working day
Since 1 January 2022, federal government offices have worked Monday to Thursday plus Friday morning, with Saturday and Sunday as the weekend. Dubai's government follows the same pattern.
Many private companies do the same, but not all. Some keep a half day on Saturday or still take Friday off, so ask your employer before you plan your first weekend.
The main weekly prayer is at Friday lunchtime, so mosques get busy and the roads around them fill up.
Living in Sharjah or another emirate? Some rules change at the border
The UAE is made up of seven emirates, and each one sets some rules of its own. Lots of people live in one emirate and work in another, especially Sharjah and Dubai, so check the rules in both places.
Two differences catch people out early:
- Alcohol: Sharjah is a dry emirate, which means it bans alcohol. Don't plan to take bottles home there.
- Working week: Sharjah government employees work Monday to Thursday, and their weekend runs from Friday to Sunday. Sharjah government offices are closed on Fridays, even though Dubai's are open in the morning.
Public holidays, and why they move
The UAE has a fairly short list of public holidays. A few fall on fixed dates. The rest follow the Islamic calendar and depend on someone seeing the new moon, so the exact days are often confirmed only a short time before.
- New Year's Day (1 January)
- Eid al-Fitr, at the end of Ramadan
- Arafat Day, the day before Eid al-Adha
- Eid al-Adha
- Islamic New Year
- The Prophet Muhammad's birthday
- Commemoration Day, around the start of December, which remembers those who died serving the UAE
- National Day (2 December), with 3 December usually a holiday too
Planning around the holidays
If you want to fly home for Eid, book flexible tickets. Flights and hotels fill up early, and you may not know your exact days off until the week before.
Private sector holidays usually match the government ones, but your contract has the final say. Check it rather than assuming.
Small rules worth learning early
Plenty of small rules are enforced here, and cameras are everywhere. These are the ones to get used to first.
- Crossing the road: use marked crossings, not a gap in the traffic.
- Metro and buses: don't eat or drink on board. Gold Class and the women and children sections are only for those passengers.
- Driving: speed cameras, phones at the wheel, lane discipline and tailgating are all watched closely. Some offences also add black points to your licence.
- ID: once you're a resident, carry your Emirates ID. Before that, carry your passport.
- Litter: don't drop any, and that includes throwing things out of a car window.
Checking your fines
Fines don't always arrive by post or text, so they can quietly pile up. Check online every so often. Here's how to check and pay fines in Dubai.
Post, parcels and addresses
Dubai doesn't have postcodes, and you shouldn't rely on regular mail. Use couriers instead. The NTD Team rates Aramex, DHL and FedEx.
You can rent a P.O. Box from Emirates Post, but it's inconvenient: you have to go to the post office to collect your mail. Our page on what to write in the postcode box explains how to fill in forms from abroad.
Everyday basics
The currency is the UAE dirham (AED). Cards and phone payments work in most places, but a little cash is handy for small shops. Tipping isn't required.
Summer is the big adjustment. It gets very hot and humid, so plan anything outdoors for early morning or evening, and keep water in the car.
What to sort out first
Your first few weeks are mostly paperwork, and the order matters. The residence visa comes first. It involves a medical test and fingerprints for your Emirates ID, the card that proves you live here.
Nearly everything after that asks for your visa or ID: a rental contract, a phone plan and DEWA (the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority) for your home. You'll need your Emirates ID to open a bank account too. The NTD Team likes Wio, a digital-only bank.
Expect each step to take longer than you were told. At the bank, be ready to sign your signature several times before they accept it. Our section on visas, the medical test, Emirates ID and UAE Pass takes you through each step in order.
Where to go next
Pick the part of daily life you feel least sure about and start there. Our everyday life guides cover transport, delivery, apps and holidays in more detail.